“Smart, sassy and sensational, Jane of Austin is a classic in its own right; a book worthy of
placing next to its Austen inspired tome.”

Change is threatening to sweep the Woodward sister’s into its vicious
cycle. In the wake of their father’s scandal, the sisters reinvent their life by opening a tea shop. Now, their landlord has died and his family
no longer believe they’re good tenants. Forced to leave behind their home and
business, the three sisters pack up and make the move from California to Texas, where distant relatives await.

Jane is the most impetuous
of the three whereas Celia is the voice of reason and then there’s Margot. A
high school senior, Margot has had plenty of change in her life, but she also
settles into their new life with little fuss. You see Jane detests the idea of
leaving their home (and wonders at the real
reason for it), while Celia has just had her heart broken by the man she
thought was “the one.” As the sisters navigate their new life, they must learn
how to adapt to change, new friends, broken hearts and possibilities.

Reading this book was
a unique experience. Not only did I have a read along with a fellow book
blogger (#BookBesties), my primary reading medium was also unusual. Part of this
experience included the audio book. Time and again I’ve said I wouldn’t like
audio books, but as I was participating in a read along, I wanted a way (if
needed) to continue to “read” this book even when the day didn’t allow for
normal reading time. Walking away from this experience was, I’m happy to
report, a very good one. (As an aside, the audio is fantastic; the female narrator gives
each character a little different “voice,” and Margot in particular is a
spot-on interpretation.) Mixing the traditional “old fashioned” way of reading (print
book) with audio enhanced the experience, and if you’re wondering what I
thought of Jane of Austin, let’s talk
about it.

It’s been weeks since reading this book, and still I didn’t
sit down to pen a review. Why? It’s one of those books that impacts its reader (because
it’s so classy) and stays with its reader long after the final page. These kind of novels are impossible to accurately put into words. The sisters
are each well written, and each personality reads a little differently than the
other. This is a book that’s memorable in all the right ways. Though
contemporized and brought into the 21st century, Jane of Austin retells Sense & Sensibility really well. Of
course, Hillary had to adjust some of the key elements because what was relevant
in Austen’s world is no longer a barrier in ours. All are changes that work in the flow without sacrificing the heart of this story.

Each of the personalities is well represented. Jane
(Marianne) is as one would expect a contemporary Marianne to be, only her “passionate”
emotions are tamed, which I appreciated. Though some parts of her original
character being carried over into this story really surprised me, each are handled well. Celia is, unfortunately,
pushed to the background because of the first-person POV switch off (between
Jane and a male character, Callum), but what’s there is very like Elinor.
Margot (Margaret) is perhaps the funniest character in the entire novel, though
all of the eccentric characters we know from Sense & Sensibility are present.

“I didn't respond on account of having a severe case of the heart flutters.” - Hillary Manton Lodge

Reading this novel is like the warm, welcoming smell of
freshly baked cookies (perfect since this book continues Hillary’s signature
addition of recipes) or the enveloping comfort of a favorite sweater. It’s full
of beautiful quotes, and lovely characters. The bond of sisterhood is depicted
as genuine with bumps and bruises, and the journey towards love is full of
heartbreak and swoony smiles. If there is a flaw I have with the book, it’s
that we don’t see enough of the girl’s
with their loves. I understand the “why,” I just wish we’d had more page time
with them, and furthermore, that this book hadn’t ended. A reader can appreciate
the simple and quiet moments that bond two characters (saying who would be all
about the spoilers!), but again, because these characters are so dynamic, they’re
missed when it’s time to say goodbye.

Smart, sassy and sensational, Jane of Austin is a classic in its own right; a book worthy of
placing next to its Austen inspired tome.♥

Synopsis: Just
a few years after their father’s business scandal shatters their lives, Jane
and Celia Woodward find themselves forced out of their San Francisco tea shop.
The last thing Jane wants is to leave their beloved shop on Valencia Street,
but when Celia insists on a move to Austin, Texas, the sisters pack up their
kid sister Margot and Jane’s tea plants, determined to start over yet again.

But life in Austin isn’t all sweet tea and breakfast tacos.
Their unusual living situation is challenging and unspoken words begin to
fester between Jane and Celia. When Jane meets and falls for up-and-coming
musician Sean Willis, the chasm grows deeper.

While Sean seems to charm everyone in his path, one person is
immune – retired Marine Captain Callum Beckett. Callum never meant to leave the
military, but the twin losses of his father and his left leg have returned him
to the place he least expected—Texas.

In this modern spin on the Austen classic, Sense and Sensibility, the Woodward
sisters must contend with new ingredients in unfamiliar kitchens, a dash of
heartbreak, and the fragile hope that maybe home isn't so far away. - Goodreads

Sincere thanks to the publisher for providing a
complimentary copy of this book.

14 comments:

YES to the impact and classy nature of this story! I could have read a few more chapters about these beloved characters, but I actually liked just where it ended, with some things neatly wrapped up and all the other possibilities of the future.

I've always felt Sense and Sensibility (or at least the 1996 film adaptation I love) was more Elinor's story, her view of events. I think Hillary's limiting of Celia's view in this story was genius --- it makes it Jane's (Marianne's) story entirely, still highlighting the sisters' relationships and still giving Celia her happy ending, but forcing a new focus on what is in her mind and heart.

Well said. I don't mind the possibilities Hillary left us with at all! I was just so engrossed that I wish we'd been given a *little* more time. That said, of course the ending does work wonderfully.

Elinor IS a strong character in this story - or the films. Because of this, I agree, she does seem to get a lot of the story time. Switching this to Marianne's perspective does make things interesting and more as if we're reading this classic story through fresh eyes and much of its intricacies for the first time. :) No matter what, it's a stunning story - and ditto! I could talk about it all day too. So. Good.

I'd seen this book was out and wondered how it would be- I know re-interpretations can sometimes be a disappointment, and not live up to the expectations. Now, I hope I get the chance to read it sometime-it sounds really good!

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